Curtain-supporter



(No Model.)

A. H. GERDOM. CURTAIN SUPPORTER.

Patented July '7, 18.85.-

. INVBNTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY ATENT truce.

ANDREW H. GERDOM, OF ALBANY, NEWV YORK.

CURTAlN-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 310.321.892, dated July 7, 1885.

Application iiYcd October 28, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ANDREW H. GnRDoM, a citizen of the United States,-;;residing at Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lambrequin or Curta n Supporters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to certain new and useful Improvements in supporters for lambrequins or draw curtains, as hereinafter described, and particularly set forth in the annexed claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like letters indicate like parts, Figure 1 represents in elevation and partial section one form of my invention. Fig. 2 represents a like view of a modified form thereof, showing certain specific features of improvement not present in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a sec tional end view of Fig. 2, one of the sustaining-brackets being shown in side elevation. Fig. 4. represents a central cross sectional view of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents an end View of a modification of the supporting'bar proper, and Fig. 6 represents in detail my preferred form or sliding attachment for suspending the fabric within the bar shown in Fig. 1.

In the several figures, A designates a suspended lambrequin or draw-curtain, andB its hollow supporting-bar. The bar B is formed from any desired material, preferably of sheetbrass or like metal capable of receiving a high polish, and is provided on its under side with a longitudinal opening extendingthroughout its entire length. From the borders of this opening two wings or flanges, EE, extend inwardly, forming a double guide rail or supporting-trackway for the sliding suspension devices from which the fabric depends. The bars are maintained in position by suitable side brackets, O O, or side and end brackets, O D, according to location. The bracket D is provided with a fixed stud, g, which, when the bar is in position, enters the space between the flanges E E preventing the bar from turning. If, as represented in Fig. 2, the bar is supported entirely by side brackets and terminates in end caps, M M, the latter may in like manner be provided with similar studs, looking the caps and bar together. \Vhere the bar is made of compressible material, these interposed studs serve the additional purpose of maintaining the proper spacing between the wings E E.

The fabric may be suspended from the bar by means of a series of buttons, hooks, or other similar devices attached at intervals toits up per edge and of a shape and dimensions adapted to slide readily backward and forward upon the inner edges of the wings or flanges. For

this purpose I propose in most instances to construct these devices of the form shown at f, Figs. 1, 4., and 5, having a convex under surface resting upon the trackway, from which surface an eye or hook extends downwardly, and is attached to the fabric edge. The fabric may, however, be attached directly to a resilient support, as the spring 0, or its equiva lent,contained within the tube and resting upon the wings E E.- This support is of sufiicient elasticity to maintain the lambrequin normally in a stretched or extended position, as represented in. Fi 2.

By means of a cord connected either directly to the outer end of the spring or to a disk, 0. bearing against said end and passing over a frictionroller, N, and through the end cap M, the spring may be retracted any desired distance, and the lambrequin drawn aside and gathered into folds. Upon releasing the cord the tension of the spring willv throw the lambrequin back into its original position.

It is obvious that the roller N may be located at the othcr end of the bar to that represented in the drawings, and the cord passing over it be attached to the opposite end of the spring; or, if desired, a roller may be located at each end of the bar, the spring divided in the center, and separate cords passing over the respective rollers be attached to the free ends of the divided spring. In this case each spring-piece will support a separate curtain, and the two can be made to recede from each other by pulling on the cords, as above described.

I am aware that it has been hitherto proposed to attach the curtain fabric to a spiral spring located within a hollow bar and capable of being retracted by a cord. By providing my bar with in wardl y-projecting wings or flanges, however, and locating the spring upon the latter, I am enabled to construct the bar of much thinner metal than would be possible were such flanges not present, the weight of the curtain resting upon the edges of the flanges and being taken up by the cylindrical portion, which acts as a strut for maintaining the parts in position and bearing the strain. The spring, moreover, moves with less friction upon the edges of the flanges than it would upon the in terior surface of the cylinder. This is a point ofconsiderable importance in my invention,on account of the severe work imposed upon the spring by reason of the weight of the curtain and the consequent desirability of lessening frictional resistance to the springs action.

What I claim is 1. In a lanibrequin or curtain supporter, the hollow bar B, provided on its under side with a longitudinal opening,and with inwardly-extending wings or flanges E E,parallel to each other, the edges of said wings forming a trackway for the suspension attachments, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with the hollow bar B, provided on its underside with alongitudinal opening, and with inwardly-extending wings or flanges E E, of the supporting-brackets G I), one of said brackets having a stud, g, engaging between the said wings E E, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, with the hollow bar 13, provided on its under side with alongitudinal opening,and withinwardly-extending wings or flanges EE,of aretractilespringlocated above said wings, and a cord, 1?, attached to one end ofsaid spring and passing out at the opposite end thereof, substantially as shown and de scribed.

In testimony whereof I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesess.

ANDREXV H. GERDOM.

Witnesses:

Smtr. HEssnERG, ALBERT IIEssnnRG. 

